The Very Rev. Dr. Chad Hatfield, Chancellor/CEO
Fordham University,441 E. Fordham Road,10458,Bronx ,NY,US

Hdn. Fr. Herman (Majkrzak), Lecturer in Liturgical Music Fr. Joseph Gall, SVOTS 2015
St. Nicholas Orthodox Church,1304 North St.,01201,Pittsfield,MA,US

The Very Rev. Dr. John Behr, Dean
St. Nicholas Serbian Orthodox Church,601 South Harrisburg Street,17113,Oberlin-Steelton,PA,US

The Very Rev. Dr. Chad Hatfield, Chancellor/CEO
St. Patrick Orthodox Church,6580 Balls Mill Road,22712 ,Bealeton,VA,US

On Tuesday, March 29, 2016, the members of the Holy Synod of Bishops of the Orthodox Church in America elected the Right Reverend Dr. Alexander (Golitzin), bishop of Toledo and the Bulgarian Diocese, to fill the vacant See of Dallas and the South during their Spring Session. His Grace succeeds His Eminence Archbishop Dmitri, who in retirement fell asleep in the Lord on August 28, 2011.

An alumnus of the Class of 1973 (M.Div.), Bishop Alexander serves on the Seminary faculty as Sessional Professor of Patristics. His Grace has served in academic settings for several decades. At Oxford University, he studied under His Eminence the Right Reverend Kallistos (Ware), metropolitan of Diokleia, and wrote his dissertation on Dionysius the Areopagite. He also spent a year at the Simonos Petras Monastery on Mt. Athos. In 1989, Bishop Alexander assumed a teaching position with the Theology Department at Marquette University in Milwaukee, WI, where he supported a dozen Orthodox Christian students in theological doctoral work.

Bishop Alexander will continue to serve as Bishop of Toledo and the Bulgarian Diocese. 

Many years, Master!

Listen to Bishop Alexander offer the second annual  Father John Meyendorff Lecture

St. Vladimir’s Seminary Press (SVS Press) is pleased to announce an updated and expanded edition of The Orthodox Faith series, popularly known as “The Rainbow series” and originally authored by Protopresbyter Thomas Hopko in 1971. Father Thomas, who reposed in the Lord one year ago today, March 18, 2015, was Dean Emeritus of St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary. The new edition, which is published as a memorial to Father Thomas, was made possible in part through a grant from the Ganister Orthodox Foundation Fund at the First Community Foundation Partnership of Pennsylvania.

“It is difficult to overestimate the importance of the series ‘The Orthodox Faith,’ ” writes His Beatitude Metropolitan Tikhon in his Preface to the new edition. “This deceptively labeled ‘elementary handbook’ on the Orthodox Church has been used by thousands, from casual enquirers to catechumens to lifelong church members, as both a catechesis and also as a basic reference tool on Orthodox Christianity.”

Originally consisting of four volumes, Doctrine, Worship, Bible & Church History, and Spirituality, The Orthodox Faith series was written to provide comprehensive information on the Orthodox Christian Church and practical instruction in how to live out the faith. The updated series includes cover redesign, new illustrations by seminary alumnus the Very Reverend Andrew Tregubov (M.Div. ’79), updated and expanded content to the church history volume, and the placement of scriptural content from Volume Three on church history to Volume One on church doctrine, in order to accommodate the expanded historical content.

“The reformatted Volume One now includes Father Thomas’s original content on church doctrine and Scripture, and treats them as a unified body of knowledge,” said Michael Soroka, associate editor at SVS Press. “In the original series, the scriptural content appeared in Volume Three and was combined with content on church history,” he explained. “But, because we significantly expanded our church history content, and because Father Thomas himself always insisted upon the unity of doctrine and Scripture, we reorganized the series in this manner.”

Dr. David C. Ford, professor of Church History at St. Tikhon’s Orthodox Theological Seminary, authored the new material in Volume Three, now simply titled, Church History. Designing it as an introductory textbook on a high school reading level, suitable for a parish class, he devotes each chapter to one century of church history and thus provides concise, essential bases for understanding the broad contours of Orthodox Christian history.

“Father Thomas was a gifted theologian who had a way with words,” remembers the Very Reverend Dr. John Behr, dean of St. Vladimir’s. “The number of people he inspired and formed, influenced and touched, both as priest and teacher, at St. Vladimir’s and throughout the world, is incalculable. I can think of no greater way to honor his legacy than to share his words with a new generation.”

SVS Press Marketing Director Dn. Gregory Hatrak further remarked, “We are humbled to be part of helping Father Thomas’s words live on; and to reach a wider audience, we’ve made all four volumes available for download in digital format.”

“Additionally, the OCA’s Department of Christian Education has developed material for discussion and reflection on The Orthodox Series, which is accessible on the OCA’s website,” he noted. “These study aids can be used by book clubs, catechesis classes, or individual readers alike, and we hope that the by using the series in this manner, many people and parishes will reignite their Orthodox Christian faith, a hope shared by Father Thomas when he wrote the original series.”

Father Thomas began teaching Doctrine and Pastoral Theology at St. Vladimir’s Seminary in 1968, eventually becoming a full Professor of Dogmatic Theology in 1991–1992. He rose to the position of seminary Dean in 1992, a post that he held until his retirement one decade later. Father Thomas was a beloved pastor, preeminent preacher, outstanding teacher, sought after speaker, and prolific writer. The Orthodox Faith was his best-known publication. It may purchased as a complete set for $55.00 or purchased individually. Orders can be placed by contacting the St. Vladimir’s Seminary Bookstore online or by calling 1-800-204-BOOK.

On the Saturday afternoon before the start of Great Lent, the Metropolitan Philip Auditorium was filled to capacity for a book launch hosted by St. Vladimir's Seminary Press (SVS Press). The event celebrated the release of the first title in the groundbreaking "Coptic Studies Series," The Life of Repentance and Purity.

Authored by His Holiness Coptic Pope Shenouda III, the book was first translated from Arabic in 1989 by the Series' Editor, His Grace Bishop Dr. Anba Suriel (Guirgis), SVOTS alumnus and Bishop of the Coptic Diocese of Melbourne and Affiliated Regions, Australia. This new translation by Bishop Suriel includes editions and patristic references, and is the first joint publication between SVS Press and St. Athanasius Press. St. Athanasius is the fledgling publishing house of St. Athanasius Coptic Orthodox Theological College in Donvale, Australia, where His Grace serves as Dean.

His Holiness Pope Shenouda III was the 117th Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark; he shepherded the Coptic Orthodox Church for over forty years before reposing in 2012. In the book, His Holiness draws on Scripture, the Church Fathers, his own experience of desert monasticism, and his tenure as the leader of millions of Coptic Christians.

At the launch event, Bishop Suriel, the Very Reverend Dr. John Behr, dean of St. Vladimir’s, and the Very Reverend Athanasius K. Farag of St. Antonious & St. Mina Church in East Rutherford, New Jersey, offered presentations to a full house. With Bishop Suriel on hand to autograph books for guests, The Life of Repentance and Purity sold briskly. "Copies of this book have sold at an unprecedented rate," said Deacon Gregory Hatrak, director of Marketing and Operations for SVS Press and Bookstore, "and we will be going to a second printing by the summer. The demand has reinforced our belief that a great need exists for English Coptic literature.

"God willing, we will soon have a presence for SVS Press in Donvale, Australia on the campus of St. Athanasius, as part of our continuing relationship with the College," continued Dn. Gregory. "They will be our distributor in Australia and New Zealand, widening the circle of influence for SVS Press even further."

"The ties between St. Vladimir's Seminary and St. Athanasius Coptic Orthodox Theological College are growing ever stronger," noted Fr. John Behr. "Both Bishop Suriel and I, as the Deans of two theological institutions, enjoy a close friendship; we understand the importance of rapprochement between the Oriental and Eastern Orthodox traditions in the 21st century." While on campus, Bishop Suriel also met with His Beatitude Metropolitan Tikhon of the Orthodox Church in America, and served as the featured speaker for the campus Lenten retreat held annually during the first two days of Great Lent.

The "Coptic Studies Series" was conceived with a two-fold purpose: to increase the accessibility of the many treasures of Coptic Orthodox Christianity to a wider English-speaking audience; and to cross-pollinate the spiritual minds of Coptic Orthodox Christians and their Eastern Orthodox brethren with the knowledge of a common faith. 

Listen to Bishop Suriel's Lenten talks, and the presentations at the book launch, on Ancient Faith Radio's podcast, Voices From St. Vladimir's Seminary.
Read Bishop Suriel's book launch speech 

 

Watch the video about this new, hybrid program

Are you thinking that a Doctor of Ministry degree might be in your future? You may be asking yourself how you can continue your graduate theological education and eventually be ready to begin the D.Min. program.

St. Vladimir’s Seminary announces a new Master of Divinity (M.Div.) Equivalency program designed to help Master of Arts (M.A.) graduates earn the necessary 72 graduate credits for an M.Div. Degree equivalency, in order to be eligible for admission to the Doctor of Ministry (D.Min.) program. 

The program is designed to be completed in three years, covering broad-based work in theology, biblical studies, and the arts ministry, including the supervised practice of ministry. Coursework will be completed through hybrid courses combining online learning and onsite intensives. Students will have both the flexibility and guidance to meet their learning needs and accommodate their ministry situation, while remaining focused on the goal of admission to the D.Min. program.

“This is a program specifically designed for pastors and professionals in ministry who want to do advanced graduate study, but cannot commit to a full-time residency at our campus,” said The Rev. Dr. J. Sergius Halvorsen, director of the D. Min. and M.Div. Equivalency programs at St. Vladimir’s.

“Similar to our D.Min. program, all of the courses in the M.Div. Equivalency program are designed as hybrid courses,” Father Sergius explained. “Students are able to fulfill the majority of the program requirements at home. But, with each course, they also have the experience of learning together on our campus for a weeklong intensive, where they are able to deepen the friendships that have developed while learning together online.”

If you would like to discuss whether the St. Vladimir’s Seminary M.Div. Equivalency program is right for your ministry goals, please contact Fr. Sergius Halvorsen, director of the D. Min. and M.Div. Equivalency programs, at (914) 961-8313 x367 or shalvorsen@svots.edu.

What are you waiting for? Apply today!

View the Facebook photo album

During the weekend of February 26–28, 2016, members of the Orthodox Inter-Seminary Movement (OISM) met at St. Vladimir’s Seminary for their bi-annual gathering, which was centered around the theme from the fall OISM meeting, “Expanding the Mission of the Orthodox Church.” The weekend offered a meaningful time of fellowship with students from other seminaries, and a timely reminder of the importance of building relationships across jurisdictional lines.

The weekend’s events began on Friday morning with a guided tour of the Byzantine collection at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, led by The Rev. Deacon Evan Freeman (M.Div. ‘09, Th.M. ‘12), lecturer in Liturgical Art at St. Vladimir’s. “The Metropolitan has one of the finest collections of Byzantine art in America, and it’s right on the doorstep of St. Vladimir’s,” remarked Deacon Evan. “Our tour allowed us to examine sixth-century silver chalices from Syria, a twelfth-century Gospel book that was probably originally made for Hagia Sophia in Constantinople, Late Byzantine and Russian icons, and many other beautiful works of art.”

On Friday evening, basketball teams from St. Vladimir's and St. Tikhon's seminaries traveled to Hooperstown in Mount Vernon, NY, and competed in their annual face off. The game is a well–loved tradition between the two schools. The winner of this year’s match was St. Vladimir’s, with a final score of 56-29.

Saturday began with a molieben served by St. Vladimir’s student priest, The Rev. Ignatius Green, followed by a campus tour. In a presentation co-sponsored by the SVOTS St. Innocent Mission Society, The Very Rev. Vladimir Aleandro (M.Div. ‘95), SVOTS lecturer in Liturgics, and Matushka Suzanne Aleandro vividly shared their experience as missionaries to Kenya with Orthodox Christian Mission Center (OCMC). The Very Rev. Dr. Chad Hatfield, SVOTS chancellor/CEO and sessional professor of Missiology, delivered two engaging lectures focusing on the increasing need for mission work and evangelism in North America.

The seminarians were able to celebrate their unity in Christ by participating in the Divine Liturgy on Sunday morning, where His Eminence Irenée, Archbishop of Ottawa and the Archdiocese of Canada, ordained SVOTS seminarian Deacon Ryan (Tikhon) Bishop to the Holy Priesthood. Following the Divine Liturgy, the seminarians mingled at coffee hour before the visiting students departed for home.

OISM was organized in the 1960s to foster closer relationships between students of canonical Orthodox seminaries in the United States and Canada. Seminarians from St. Tikhon’s Seminary, South Canaan, PA; Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology, Brookline, MA; and Holy Trinity Seminary, Jordanville, NY, participated in the weekend’s events.

Read about the 2015 OISM gathering at St. Tikhon’s Seminary.
Want to join us as a seminarian next year? Read more about how to attend St. Vladimir’s!

Photos by Mary Honoré

Archdeacon Kirill Sokolov
St. Vladimir’s Seminary,575 Scarsdale Road,10707,Yonkers,NY,US

Read about the 2015 Practicum

Intense liturgical training is the focus of this 4–day program to be held from Sunday, June 26–Wednesday, June 29, 2016 on the campus of St. Vladimir's Seminary. Participants are asked to arrive after 3 p.m. on Sunday, June 26; the last day of the practicum, June 29 includes morning Divine Liturgy, a closing discussion, and brunch. Participants may leave campus at noon for 3:00 p.m. and later flights from area airports. 

• REGISTER ONLINE TODAY!! 
• Travel and airport service information available HERE.
• Download the schedule.

(For those buying airline tickets to any event, flight insurance is recommended.)

• Course Description
• Registration and Fees
• On–Campus Accommodations

Course Description

Practical liturgical training for deacons and lay diaconal candidates will be supported by celebration of the Divine Liturgy and other services. Intensive workshops aim to provide participants with the skills needed to serve effectively in the Orthodox Church as an attentive server, deacon, or priest. Attention will be given to the liturgical patterns of movement that inform the entire rite of the Church. Participants will also receive guidance on concelebrations and hierarchical celebrations so that they can effectively prepare for such occasions. In addition to practicums, focused presentations by faculty will augment the deacon's understanding of his place in the liturgical life of the Church and the deacon's broader vocation as a symbol to the faithful of the diakonia of Christ our Lord. Instruction in public speaking and vocal technique will also be offered.

This practicum is held in conjunction with the Orthodox Church in America's Diaconal Vocations Program (DVP) and is highly recommended for participants in the Church's program by the Holy Synod. Liturgical workshops led by Archdeacon Kirill Sokolov, director of the Diaconal Vocations Program for the Orthodox Church in America (OCA), will aim to provide participants with the skills needed to serve effectively in the Orthodox Church as an attentive server, deacon, or priest. Particular focus will be given to the typical celebration of the Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom by one priest and one deacon.

The Very Rev. Dr. Sergius Halvorsen will lead sessions on public speaking, teaching, and preaching, as well as church reading and vocal technique. Fr. Sergius holds an M.Div. from St. Vladimir's Seminary and a Ph.D. in Liturgical Studies from Drew University. He is the Assistant Professor of Homiletics and Rhetoric at St. Vladimir's Seminary. 

Registration and Fees: Register Online

• Practicum and meals only (lodging off-campus) ($350.00)
• Practicum, lodging, & meals—double occupancy ($450.00)
• Practicum, lodging, & meals—single occupancy ($500.00)
• Practicum, lodging, & meals—participant & spouse ($700.00) 
  
• Additional night stay—$35.00 ea.

On–Campus Accommodations

On-campus housing is in non-smoking, non-air conditioned, dormitory rooms with shared bathrooms. Because there are a limited number of single rooms, they will be given to the first registrants. Staying on-campus includes meals at the refectory, which are catered, without individual meal options. The seminary staff will provide sheets and towels. Please bring your own personal items (such as soap, shampoo, toothpaste, and small fans.) Wireless access to the Internet is available across campus.

View our Event Cancellation Refund Policy

(Updated February 4, 2016)